Potential of cationic porphyrins for photodynamic treatment of cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Four tetracationic porphyrins have been investigated for their ability to photo-inactivate Leishmania major promastigotes. Parallel photocytotoxicity assays against keratinocytes and macrophages show significant differences in activity between the microorganism and mammalian cells. Results suggest that it may be possible to photodynamically inactivate macrophages infected with Leishmania and the promastigote form of the microorganism, while minimising damage to surrounding tissue.